Lafarge Ravena Cement Plant Kicks Off 60th Anniversary

  • Share:
May 19, 2022
Lafarge Ravena Cement Plant Kicks Off 60th Anniversary Year
 
Largest Employer In Southern Albany County Marks Six Decades of Helping Build Iconic New York Projects & Infrastructure, Looks Ahead to Increasingly Sustainable Future
 
RAVENA, NY, May 19, 2022 – Officials at the Lafarge Ravena cement plant today marked the anniversary of the facility’s 1961 groundbreaking, kicking off a yearlong celebration of the plant’s 60 years of making significant contributions to New York’s economy and built environment, its history of giving back to the community, and its commitment to sustainable building solutions. 
 
At a May 19, 1961 ceremony attended by 1,000 dignitaries, elected officials and local residents, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller broke ground on a $64 million facility, then owned by Atlantic Cement Co., predicting: “Now you’ll see a real boom in the area!”
 
According to a report in The Troy Record, Governor Rockefeller “turned the first shovel-full of earth on a limestone-abundant site near the Hudson River and stated: ‘The enormous production capacity of this plant will undoubtedly draw many large and small companies to the environs, and as a result, employment will rise considerably.”
 
The plant began operating in 1962.  Sixty years later, the Ravena plant employs approximately 160 full-time workers and spurs a ripple effect of job creation through its engagement with dozens of local vendors and contractors. It is the largest employer and largest property taxpayer in Southern Albany County.
 
“We have come a long way since that historic day when Governor Rockefeller first broke ground in Ravena, and I am proud of the work we have done to fulfill his prediction of this facility’s significant economic impact,” said plant manager Dave MacLauchlin. “We have much more to do, and we look forward to playing a key role in building the state’s green energy and sustainable economies over the next 60 years.” 
 
“The Business Council applauds the leadership of the Ravena cement plant and their employees for the hard work that has brought them to this milestone moment and for their ongoing commitment to the local community,” said Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State. “We are proud to call them a member of The Business Council and proud of the innovations and technology they have brought to the plant over the past several years. We will continue our support for plant manager Dave MacLauchlin and his team as they strive to support the state’s sustainability goals.” 
 
“Lafarge has been an important economic driver in Albany County over the past 60 years,” said Capital Region Chamber President and CEO Mark Eagan. “The Lafarge plant supports scores of good-paying manufacturing jobs as it produces cement for key infrastructure projects statewide. Lafarge is a strong community partner; we look forward to witnessing the continued evolution and engagement of the company over the next 60.”
 
“As a member of the Bethlehem Chamber for 14 years, Lafarge (Holcim) continues to be a strong factor not only for local development, but in North America and overseas,” said Ellen Nesbitt, interim President of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud the company for the measures they are taking toward net zero carbon emissions; the investment in modernizing the Ravena plant; and the leadership and employees’ willingness to give back to their community.”
 
“For the past 60 years, the Ravena cement plant has benefitted the lives of countless people who live in and travel through the state, playing an instrumental role in our state’s many infrastructural undertakings,” said Assemblyman Chris Tague, (R, C, I-Schoharie). “The facility provides over 100 good-paying, family-supporting jobs on-site, and its operations have spurred the creation of dozens of additional businesses. I congratulate Plant Manager Dave MacLauchlin and the Ravena team as they celebrate their 60-year milestone and look forward to their future contributions to our communities and company successes.”
 
Since its opening in 1962, the Ravena plant has produced materials for numerous infrastructure projects and some of the most iconic landmarks across the Northeast, including the One World Trade Center Memorial; the Giants Stadium in Rutherford, NJ; and the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
 
The plant continues to invest in new equipment and technologies to improve its operations and align with the net-zero goals of the nation, the state, and its parent company, Holcim (US).
 
In September 2017, the Ravena plant completed a three-year, multimillion-dollar modernization project that significantly improved efficiency, produced up to 800 construction jobs and generated $170 million to the local economy. The modernization project focused on a new kiln line that exceeds strict state and federal emissions limits.
 
Lafarge is a member of Holcim US, which offers an unparalleled range of innovative cement, aggregates, asphalt, concrete products, and construction services that have been the foundation for infrastructure projects across the globe. We support the nation’s prosperity because a good infrastructure is at the heart of a good economy. 
Holcim is leading the way toward more efficient, sustainable, and effective building products and practices - and a development environment that’s better for builders, communities, and the planet. We’re proud to be part of a movement that is pushing the evolution of building. Together, we are creating new ways to build greener and build smarter.
For more information, please visit https://www.lafargeravenaconnect.com/ and https://www.holcim.us/.